I love lamp.I really did love making this lamp. Illumination is something that I've been thinking about a lot in relation to my work. How pieces have been lit has always been important to me, and I want to start making that a more intrinsic part of the work. I'm afraid sometimes, though, that as I try to figure out the mechanics of it things end up feeling clunky or gimmicky.This first one was done off of a ready-made Chinese lantern, and I have several others that I may use as bases. Though I'm still not sure how I feel about how instantly recognizably they are as underlying forms. Because of that, I've started to make my own wire structure to build from. I've included a picture of the one I've started and plan to start papering soon.

The last is a large butcher paper collage that I'm playing with on my big wall. I've been making large, loose ink sketches, cutting them apart, and reassembling them with shaped cardboard and textured paper elements. These feel more tied in with the small detailed drawings I've been doing in my sketchbook lately.

I feel like I'm going in a lot of different directions right now. I'm not sure if I want to keep pursuing each as separate explorations, or if I'll start to meld them into larger overall assemblages. I guess only time will tell.

I love lamp too. I think working off these ready-made lanterns is great, and a good way to experiment with tape forms. I think in order for you to prevent this from looking “clunky or gimmicky” I think you have to completely mask the underlying form, purposely echo the original structure in your added elements, or alter the actual structure. You can puncture the paper, bend the wires, and go in and out of the base. You've already gone a step further by making your own wire structure, but I think altering these existing objects has something interesting and different to say.

All your different directions are great! Release all that pent up art making in your brand new studio! Getting a new space is an exciting time, but it sure is daunting. There is a lot of self-pressure to make up for lost times. As hard as it is, don’t think about the finished works you feel like you should be making, rather work intuitively and recklessly. As you said, time will tell.

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Sherwood

02/28/2014 10:10am

Katie!!!

Wow these photos are gorgeous! I am jealous of how well your tape pieces photograph. I want a big art book just filled with them that I can show off ;)

So about the ready made structures vs you creating your own metal structures. I agree with Cece about masking the underlying forms. But also, I see the ones using the ready made lantern structures like small studies(like small oil painting studies) as opposed to larger pieces. I don't see them as clunky, just a quicker mode of exploration. I think it is important to experiment with your lighting pieces on a variety of scale. It may be interesting to take them even smaller, baby mini lanterns? Seeing your larger wire structure is very exciting, I can't wait to see what you do with it. Get it, girl.

DEFINITELY work intuitively and recklessly like Cece said, well put. I would love to see you combine these elements into a large, theatrical Katie install but it needs to come at your own pace. This is a great start and you need to let the work happen as you go through the motions. I know we've spoken a lot about finding a balance of studio time and it will probably take a little bit to find a studio schedule that really works for you. You really need to get into that PLAY space where you can be in uninterrupted bliss of just doing things. Jackie and I may need to bring up that one quote we were going over with Marie in our last semester(Jackie help me out here, something about pooping your pants?!?) These are exciting times lady!

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Jamie

03/03/2014 10:28am

I am so glad that you put your idea of paper and light together. I remember when Tom suggested that (what seems like a million years ago) and here you are doing it! I love that you are experimenting with creating your own wire sculpture. You have a natural way of creating forms with both elegance and sturdiness that this seems like a natural progression for you. Have you thought much about the different types of lighting? Christmas lights, suspended hanging lights from Ikea, etc? I especially love going down the lighting section of Home depot. Instantly I feel like I am transported into a different store and it always amazes me how one aisle can seem like a completely different store.
I feel like it is natural for you to want to transport the viewer and yourself into another dimension. You did that with your solo show, the graffiti room, and to yourself by going to Burning Man. Do that with light.
Keep up your awesomeness

Actually, if you say it, I don't really doubt it. He was always really good at generating ideas for a lot of different directions to take a certain line of work and remembering specific artists and shows to reference to go along with each suggestion. Sometimes it's hard to remember just one. I'm pretty sure I have pages and pages of scribbled notes along those lines stashed from my individual crits with him from that final semester. I should dig them out and revisit those ideas.

I am trying different kinds of lighting. I have the classic round Chinese lanterns in 4", 8", and 12" sizes. I think I still have one more Ikea VÄTE shade, which is more of a flattened sphere, though I need to get more cord sets...and look at ways to integrate the cord into the lamp structure more. I hid it well in these photos, but that is one aspect that I feel is still very clunky. I also have some plugin Christmas lights, and smaller versions that are run off of button batteries. I need to play with those as well as some of the LED battery powered ones for the hanging lanterns. Plus I've got some floor based can lights to put into the larger structure. I've also been thinking about trying to make lighted shadowboxes for some of the more two dimensional work I've been doing. Need to make another trip to the hardware store.

I'm enjoying using the smaller lanterns as studies. They give me a concentrated surface to focus on specific techniques and applications--experiment and refine before I try to take it larger scale.

This installation was so intriguing. I saw this back in 2010 and wished I could have shown you it. Here's the link. You may be able to get more images by googling "PS1 MOMA tape installation" Love you!

I think it's normal for new work to feel clunky because we are still figuring things out, problems arise, and our hands have to catch up with our ideas. That being said, I think the way you are manipulating the paper into these forms is pretty awesome.

I agree that creating your own form needs to happen to eliminate the easily identifiable structure underneath. These days you can find little LED's anywhere for cheap, which could make it easier to deal with that as well as wiring/install issues. Otherwise, I think eventually you're going to have to get more technical with your wiring etc. Also, you could start using nylons as a tool to enclose your structure in a similar way that the lantern functioned as a support.

OMG, the pooping of pants critique! I can't put that context/quote together, but when I think of it, you bet your pants I will share.